WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved John Roberts’ nomination as the next Supreme Court chief justice, virtually assuring his confirmation by the Senate next week.

Three Democrats joined the committee’s 10 majority Republicans in a 13-5 vote to advance the conservative judge’s nomination to the full Senate.

Five Democrats — Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California, Joseph Biden of Delaware, Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, Charles Schumer of New York and Dick Durbin of Illinois — opposed Roberts.

At times, the arguments over whether Roberts is an appropriate successor to the late William H. Rehnquist merged with senators’ worries about whom President Bush will choose to be his next nominee to the court, as the replacement for the retiring Sandra Day O’Connor.

The Senate’s 44 Democrats seem to be split on whether they can, or should, mount even symbolic opposition to Roberts. His confirmation as the 109th Supreme Court justice is assured because most of the Senate’s 55 Republicans are supporting him and Democrats have decided not to filibuster his nomination.

But Democrats who oppose his nomination said they can’t take the risk that Roberts will prove a conservative ideologue on the court.

Frustrated by Roberts' lack of responsesFeinstein told a packed Judiciary Committee hearing room that her vote was decided after Roberts refused to fully answer questions from her and other Democrats in his confirmation hearing last week.

“I knew as little about what Judge Roberts really thought about issues after the hearings as I did before the hearing. This makes it very hard for me,” said Feinstein, an abortion rights supporter.

“I cannot in good conscience cast a ‘yea’ vote,” she said. “I will cast a ‘no’ vote.”

Biden said his vote was a close call, but Roberts “does not appear to share the same expansive view of fundamental rights of previous nominees I have supported. I’m unwilling to take the constitutional risk at this moment in the court’s history.”

Sen. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, both Wisconsin Democrats, and the committee’s top Democrat, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, decided to support making the conservative judge the nation’s 17th chief justice.

“I will vote my hopes today and not my fears,” Kohl said.

Kohl said Roberts made it clear to him that he will be a modest judge, not an activist, and will approach arguments with an open mind.

“I take him at his word that he will steer the court to serve as an appropriate check on potential abuses of presidential power,” Leahy told the committee and former Sen. Fred Thompson — Roberts’ escort through the confirmation process — who watched from the crowd.

O'Connor replacement choice to be announced soonThose statements likely are directed at the president, who is expected to soon make public his choice to replace O’Connor, who has been a swing vote on issues including affirmative action, abortion, discrimination and death penalty cases.

Replacing her could give the president a chance to swing the court to the right on many issues.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former deputy attorney general Larry Thompson, lawyer Miguel Estrada and Maura Corrigan, a member of the Michigan Supreme Court, are also considered possibilities.

“We’re already talking about the next nominee in code,” noted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “Sen. Kohl, who voted yes, is talking about the balance of the court with O’Connor. Sen. Feingold is mentioning that he may not be receptive to Justice Brown. I can understand it. That’s the way this situation is in 2005.”

Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Roberts has the ability to end the Supreme Court’s recent 5-4 splits on issues important to Americans.

“I think he has a real sense for building consensus,” said Specter, who is an abortion rights moderate.

Lots of support for RobertsBeyond the committee, Leahy, Feingold and Kohl are not the only Democrats supporting Roberts.

Sens. Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Max Baucus of Montana have announced their support. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has indicated she is leaning toward voting for the nominee. Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota is viewed as a possible vote for him, as well.

The White House wants Roberts to be in place as the nation’s 17th chief justice when the Supreme Court begins its new term on Oct. 3.